Methods and apparatus for defining, storing, and identifying key performance indicators associated with an RF network

• US 20080081632A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Malik, Ajay
• Application Number:
  US11/540,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20080081632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system for assessing the state of an RF network includes a plurality of wireless devices coupled to the network and having one or more associated antennae, the wireless devices configured to process data received from a plurality of RF elements within range of the antennae. An RF switch is coupled to the network and configured to receive the data and transmit the data over the network. A first memory within the RF switch is configured to store a system state comprising a plurality of performance indicators, wherein each of the performance indicators is associated with an operational characteristic of one or more of the plurality of wireless devices. A second memory within the RF switch is configured to store a plurality of labeled data entries, the labeled data entries each including the system state and a user-entered identifier, wherein the user-entered identifier includes information related to the time at which the system state was selected. A display coupled to the network is configured to display a comparison of the system states.

Claims

1. A system for assessing the state of an RF network, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless devices coupled to the network and having one or more associated antennae, the wireless devices configured to process data received from a plurality of RF elements within range of the antennae;

an RF switch coupled to the network and configured to receive the data and transmit the data over the network;

a first memory within the RF switch, the first memory configured to store a system state comprising a plurality of performance indicators, wherein each of the performance indicators is associated with an operational characteristic of one or more of the plurality of wireless devices;

a second memory within the RF switch, the second memory configured to store a plurality of labeled data entries, the labeled data entries each including the system state and a user-entered identifier, wherein the user-entered identifier includes information related to the time at which the system state was selected; and

a display coupled to the network for displaying a comparison of the system states.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the comparison comprises a bar graph comparison.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with RF coverage of the network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with load balancing of the network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with security threat level.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with a redundancy quotient of the network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with network utilization.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier is at least partially automatically generated.

9. A method for monitoring the state of an RF network, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of wireless devices coupled to the network and having one or more associated antennae, the wireless devices configured to process data received from a plurality of RF elements within range of the antennae;

determining a plurality of performance indicators, wherein each of the performance indicators is associated with an operational characteristic of one or more of the plurality of wireless devices;

allowing a user to select a first state of the network at a first time and to enter a first identifier associated with the first state, wherein the first identifier includes information relating to the first time;

storing a labeled data entry, the labeled data entry including the first identifier and the first state;

retrieving the labeled data entry;

determining a current state of the network at a second time; and

displaying a visual representation of a comparison of the first state to the second state.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the visual representation comprises displaying a bar graph comparing the first state to the second state.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with RF coverage of the network.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with load balancing of the network.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with security threat level.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with a redundancy quotient of the network.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the performance indicators include a performance indicator associated with network utilization.

16. The method of claim 9, further including storing the performance indicators in a memory provided within an RF switch coupled to the plurality of wireless devices over the network.

17. The method of claim 9, further including storing the labeled data entry in a memory provided within an RF switch coupled to the plurality of wireless devices over the network.

18. The method of claim 9, including allowing a user to define the custom performance indicators.